Liquid and gas contact apparatus



LIQbD AND GAS CONTAQT APPARATUS gyn/venin@ Nov. 25 1930n g F'. H. WAGNER LIQUID AND GAS CONTACT APPARATUS' 2 sheets-sheet 2 'Filed Marn 14, 1928" elf/toma m44 Patented Nov. 25,` 1930 i UNITED STATESI FREDERICK n. WAGNER, cir-BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AssIGNon To 'riem BARTLETT HAYWARD COMPANY, oF BALr1MonE,-.MARYLAND, A CORPORATION or MARY- LAND LIQUID` l AND cfAs CONTACT vArnAaAtius Application led March 14, 1828. VScrialilllo. 261,625.

This invention pertains to liquid and gas -contact apparatus and more particularly to that type wherein the pressureof the gas flowing through the apparatus is utilized to agitata the liquid employed to clean or otherwise act'upon the gas and thus-bringabout or eiiect a most intimate `contact between such elements.

The underlying'principle of the invention 1b may be said to involve the holding of a layer or body of liquid upon a reticular or foraminous member through the agency of a gas Whichis caused to passupwardly through the perforations and through the body of vliquid which is thereby subjected to violent agitation by the upiowing gas streams or jets. Such action tends to breakup the gas streams, or the gas bubbles thereof, and

to eifectan intimate contact between the liquid and the matter carried by the bubbles with4 a consequent wetting of such matter.

The invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms and inthe annexed- 25 tration.

In said drawings: l Figure'l is avertical sectional view of one form of the apparatus which for brevity ymay be termed ascrubber, Y

Figure 2 Yasimilar view showing. a portion of a scrubber of a modified form,

Figure 3 a transverse sectional View on aannam- 111 of Figure 2, c

Figure 4 a View similar to Figure 2 illustrative of a further embodiment, and

Figure 5 a horizontal section on the line V-V of Figure 4.

Referring first to Figure l, 1 denotes the shell of the casing which will preferably be formed from a series of superimposed unit sections as is usuahtlie requisite number being present' to produce the desired or necessary capacity. At its lower endthere is proV vided a gas inlet 2 while at theupper end there is a gas odtake 3.

a series of horizontally disposed diaphragme designated by 4 which in eect divide the interior space into a series of chambers.

Each diaphragm is provided with a cen- Within theshell or casing there is provided Pari-:NT OFFICE.. i'

trally disposed upstanding open ended, tul bular member or collar 5 which affords pas'- sage of the gas from one chamber to that next above and this throughout the'height ofthe structure. .p

Each diaphragm is also provided with a pocket as 6 into which solids, removed from thel upgoing gas, collectand from which pocket they may be Withdrawn, as occasion requires, through a valved drain'pipe 7.

Extending transversely ofthe shell in each of chambers formed between the diaphragms is a plate 8 having a centrally disposed circularl hood 9' which overlies the tubular member 5in spaced relation thereto. In other words the hood is of a diameter larger than that of the tubular member 5 so that a gasy l passage -is left between said elements.

VPlate 8 outwardly ofthe hood or `cap v9 is provided with a plurality of openings 10 through which t-he gas passes into the space there-above and into `and through the tubular member 5..

AThe course or flow of the gas, which of course is forced through the opening 2 under the requisite'pressure, is indicated by the arrows. l

lAs it passes through the uppermost perforate plate Vit is prevented from short-cir'- cuiting to the outlet 3 by any suitable baiile, as for instance a conical deflector plate 11 supported and heldin spaced relation to the wall of the casing by brackets l2.

Liquid may be introduced into the apparatus through any suitable means, as for instance througha pipe 13 at the upper end of the structure, the inner discharge end terminating directly above the uppermost hood 9. be, through other valved feed pipesl as 14 which deliver into the chambers above the plates 4.

It may also be introduced, if'need Opening into each -of the chambersin line Gel pipes will be provided with an adjustable mouth piece or Weir element 17 whereby the depth of liquid which obtains on the perforate plate may be regulated according to the requirements of the particular operation being effected Within the scrubber; as gas washing or a gas absorbing reaction. Ordinarily inflow through pipe 13 will be all sufficient but' the apparatus may be primarily filled or charged b y opening one or more of the pipes 14. If found desirable a greater orl less quantity of liquid may be introduced at all times through said pipes.

A trapped pipe 18 will beprovided for the drainage of any liquid which may accumulate within the base of the structure.

Extending vertically through the center of the structure is a shaft 19 supported in a step bearing 2O at its lower end and a bearing- 21 at its upper end. Said shaft may be driven by any suitable means such as a pulley 22 to which motion is imparted from any suitable source. i

The shaft, as will be seen, passes through the baffle 11 and through the upper portion of each of the cap elements 9 and down through the tubular gas conducting members.

Secured to the shaft in each of the chambers are two Scrapers 23 and 24.

Scraper 23 is given such conformation as to contact with the outer face of the member 5 and to bear upon the upper face of the underlying diaphragm. It acts to remove any solid matter which may be deposft'ed upon such surfaces and to carry it around to the draw-off pocket 6 in which it is deposited.

Scraper 24 contacts the inner surface of the cap 9 and likewise removes any solid matter which might tend to deposit thereon. The solid matterthus removed by the meme ber 24 will, of course, drop upon the plate 4 and be removed bv the scraper 23.

While the perforated plate 8 is under ordinary circumstances found sufficient to bring about the proper subdivision of the gas stream and to break up the bubbles thereof it is found advantageous to employ a reticulated or wire structure as .25 supported above and held in spaced relation to the perforate plates 8 as is indicated in connee tion with two of the plates in Figure 1. The reticulated or screen surface may be held in position with reference` to plate 8` by any suitable means, as for instance spacers 26 and bolts o1' rivets 27.

` With the apparatus constructed as above described, and it being assumed that gas to be cleaned is flowing in through the opening 2,

and it being further assumed that water is passing inwardly through the pipe 13 and motion imported to shaft 19, the action is as follows:

The gas passing upwardly under pressure from the opening 2 will follow the path indicated by thc arrows, that is to say will go upwardly through the member 5 into the passes through theperforated plate 8.

The pressure (velocity) of the gas tends to force the liquid from the bottom of the chamber and upwardly through the perforations in the plates 8 and to maintain or hold a body of water on said plate7 the gas passing through the same in fnie streams or bubbles. In passing through the perforations the gas is compressed or wiredrawn, hence tends to expand as it enters the body of water resting upon the plate, thus causing disruption of the gas bubbles and contact of the water with the matter contained within the gas bubbles, such as solid entrained particles, with a consequent wetting of such material. The same action inneres in each chamber through the apparatus and the cleaned gas finally passes out through the outlet 3. Recirculation of theliquid from the chamber or reservoir directly above the plates 4 through and onto the perforate plate and return to the reservoir is accomplished with varying gas velocities thus securing froth upon the liquid independently of a fixed gas velocity. I

As above noted the level of the liquid upon the plate 4 or in the reservoir, as that space above the plate 4 may be termed, can be so maintained by means of the adjustable member 17 that the lowestpossible velocity of the gas must and will carry the liquid upwardly onto the top of the perforate plate 8.

As will be seen upon reference to Figure l, in the next to the top chambeiythere is shown a wire screen element 8 which in this instance is employed solely instead of the perforate plate or such plate plus the wire screen.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, which show a slightly modified arrangement of the apparatus, it is to be noted that there is present the plates 4, each having the upstanding centrally disposed tubular member 5, thus forming a series of superimposed chambers as in the other structure.

Overlying each of the plates and extending transversely of the chambers is the perforate plate 8 having the hood or cap 9 as in the other structure. In this instance, however, the hood is not perforated inasmuch as there is no shaft present though of course it might' be included along with the Scrapers.

' Liquid is introduced into the apparatus with a pipe 13a onto the uppermost hood and supplemental feed valved pipes, such as 14, may also be present.

The wall of each'chamber, at a point above the perforate plate 8, is formed with an outwardly extending circumferential enlargement 30 from which depend a plurality of" pockets 31A interconnected adjacent their lower ends with the chamber above the plate 4, at the bottom of the chamber, by pipes 32. A second series of pockets 33 also extend downwardly from said circumferential enlargement 30 'and through the bottom of -the next below,v it being understood', of course,.

latter`projects a pipe 34 having an adjustable cup or weir element 35 mounted on. the upper end thereof. The lower end of the pipe 34 extends into the pocket 31 of the chamber that the pockets 31 and 33 of one series 4stand over the-alternate pockets of the chamber' next below. In other words the pocket 3l`of the lowermost chamber, as shown'in Figure 2, is in alignment with picket 33 ofthe chamber above, whereas the pocket 33 of the lowermost chamber stands nalignmentv with the pocket 31 of the chamber next above. Each vof the pockets`31 is provided with a valved-` draw-off pipe 36 through which any collected solid matter may be Withdrawn from time to time. y y

The action of this form of the apparatus is substantially the same asthat described in connection with Figure 1, hence the description ofthe operation is `not repeated.

In Figures 4 and 5 a further modification is shown. In this instance the plates 40, instead of having acentrally disposed opening as the member 5 in the other structures, 'are l spaced from the wall of the casing and each one is' provided with .an upstanding rim or iange 41 so as to produce an openingl for the passage of gas between the said upstand-` ing flange and the shell-of the structure.

As in the other structures, there is a series of these plates standing in spaced relation tov eachother to form chambers and extending through each of the chambers transversely thereof is a plate 42,' the central portion 43 whereof is depressed and perforated. That portion of the'plate which overlies the upstanding rim 41 as well as` the section 44 which connects the outer portion of Ythe member42 with the perforate portion 43 are imperforate so as to prevent the gas from taking a direct upward flow through the apparatus. It will thus be seen that the gas inlet and the means employed to eifect'the ddwnward iow of the gas onto the water or liquid overlying the imperforate plate or member is to all intents and purposes the mechanical equivalent of ,the centrally disposed tubular mem- .ber 5 and the cooperatingcap or hood 9 of the other structures.

A series of overflow pipes, 45 is mounted in the perforate plate 43,l the upper end of each pipe extending slightly above the plate while the lower ends terminate close tothe plate 40 Y and are at all times submerged in the liquid which lies upon the plate.

` Spaced around the outside of the casing is a series of boxes 46,'said boxes being interconnected with the lower part of the chambers above the plate 40 by pipes or conduits-47.

A second series of box-like elements 48, is also placed outside of the easing and each box is connected to the chamber through pipes or conduits 49. Liquid is introduced into the apparatus through .a feed pipe13b and, if l )desired, through supplemental feed pipes 14 Extending upwardly into each of the boxes 46 is a' pipe 50, the upper'end whereof is provided with an adjustable cup or weir element 51. Thevlower end of the pipe 50 passes through the upper side of the box 48 which stands below the box 46, it being understood that the boxes 46 in one series align with the boxes 48 in the series immediately below whereas the boxes 48 in said first series align with the boxes 46 in the next lower series. Each of-the'boxes 48 .is providedvwith a valved draw-off pipe 52.

A relatively small equalizing pressurepipe 53 extends into the upper portion of each of the boxes 46 and at its opposite end opens into the Icasing above the plate 42.

The flow of the gas through-the apparatus is indicated byv thearrows and, as will be seen, passes upwardly and around'the upstanding wall 41, thence downwardlyl against the liquid on'the plate 40,'foicing a portion of the water or other liquid therefrom, due to the velocity (pressure) of the gas, upwardly through the perforations in the plate and maintaining" the same on the plate in a state of ebullition.4 VvThe gas passing" through the openings is compressed to a greater or less extent and immediately it reaches the upper side of the plate 43 the bubbles break andallow the liquid to wet the solid matterA or particles carried by or entrained in thegas or gas bubbles.

'Ihe lower end of each of the pipes 45 is in practice always submerged in the liquid which obtains on the member 40, and any excess liquid which may be forced up through the perforations will tend to flow back through said .pipes to said member.

If desired the water, or other liquid employed, may carry a suitable flocculating or LYfoam producing agent (either or both) 'which will tend to produce a froth upon the upper surface of the gas agitated bodies of water sustained upon the .various perforate plates by the 11p-coming gas ;this with a view of assisting in the arresting ofthe solid mat ters `carried by the gas. 1

In the generic or broader claims the terms cfperforate, foraminous or reticular as applied to the diaphragms are to be given a broad interpretation and are to be construed as covering the perforations formed in the plate or the 'wire screen construction.

What is claimed is: 1. In a gas and liquid vContact'apparatus the combination of a casing having a gas inlet and a gas outlet; a series of chambers formed therein by a series of transversely extending plates, each plate having a passage l'or the uptlow of gas associated therewith; means for introducing a liquid into the chambers a reticular element extending transversely of each chamber and closing said chamber against upward passage of gas other than through such reticular element; means associated'with the gas passages aforesaid for causing the gas as it is forced upwardly through the casing to low against and to carry a portion at least of the liquid from the lower part of Veach chamber upwardly through the reticular element located therein, such liquid being retained upon said element by the uptlowing gas stream; a trapped overiow for liquid extending from a point` above the reticular element to .a point within the chamber next below; and means for introducing liquid directly into said chambers independently of each other.

Q. In a gas and liquid contact apparatus the combination of a casing provided with a gas inlet and a gas outlet; a series of chambers formed therein by a series of transverse.- ly extending plates or partitions, each plate having a passage for the upliow of gas asso ciated therewith; a perforate plate extending transversely of each chamber and spaced from the adjacent partition plates, the perforations forming the only passages through which the gas may pass on its way upwardly through the apparatus; means for causing the gas as it is forced upwardly through the apparatus to be deiected toward the upper surface of each partition plate prior to its passage upwardly through the perforated plate next above; means for introducing a liquid into the upper part of the casing, and other means for introducing liquid into the chambers independently of the liquid introduced into the upper parts of the casing.

3. In a gas and liquid contact apparatus the combination of a casing having a gas inlet and a gas outlet; a perforate plate eX- tending` transversely of the casing, the perforations in the plate forming the sole passages through which the gas may pass on its y way upwardly through the apparatus; an imperforate plate underlying the perforate plate and spaced therefrom; means for introducing a liquid into the apparatus; means associated with said plates to cause the upgoing gas stream to vforce the liquid in ,part at least throughthe perforations in the perforated plate, such liquid being retained against reiiow by the velocity of the gas stream; means for introducing liquid into the chambers formed by the imperforate plates; and a trapped overflow'for liquid extending from a point above the perforate plate to a point above the perforate plate next below.

4. In a gas and liquid contact apparatus the combination of a casing having a gas inlet and a gas outlet; a series of plates extending transversely thereof, said plates standing in spaced relation to each other and FREDERICK H. WAGNER. 

